Luggage frame and accessory

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a luggage piece configured to engage with a luggage accessory. The luggage piece defines a housing and a cavity, and has an accessory frame located therein. The luggage piece further includes a receiver port located along an upper surface of the luggage piece. A vertical support may be configured to slidably engage with the receiver port.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a luggage frame associated with a luggage piece and, more particularly, to systems and methods for attaching, removing and using luggage accessories associated with the luggage frame.

BACKGROUND

Luggage pieces have for a long time been used by individuals to transport articles of clothing, toiletries, and other possessions desirable for prolonged periods away from home. Often, individuals own multiple pieces of luggage, including large luggage pieces meant to carry articles for extended trips, carry-on pieces, duffle bags, and personal bags (such as messenger bags and backpacks).

As markets, and by extension job and personal responsibilities, have expanded around a now global market, so too has the need for individuals to carry a more diverse set of possessions on trips away from home. Often individuals carry, in addition to clothes and toiletries, laptops, tablets, papers, files, books, and other such articles which allow the individual to be productive during when in transit. As such, it is desirable to provide systems and methods which facilitate the use of an individual's articles while the individual is in transit.

SUMMARY

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a luggage piece including an accessory frame includes a housing defining a cavity, a receiver port located on the housing along an upper surface of the housing, and a vertical support. The vertical support is configured to slidably engage with the receiver port. The luggage piece may further include a plurality of receiver ports located along the housing along the upper surface, and a plurality of vertical supports. The plurality of vertical supports may be configured to slidably engage with the plurality of receiver ports. In aspects, the plurality of vertical supports may slidably engage a plurality of vertical frame channels. The plurality of vertical frame channels may be configured to secure the plurality of vertical supports in the cavity.

According to aspects, the plurality of vertical supports are configured to couple to a lower surface located on the housing. The vertical supports may further include telescoping vertical supports which are configured to slidably engage the vertical supports. The vertical supports may further include tensioning mechanisms configured to selectively fix the telescoping vertical supports relative to the vertical supports. The plurality of vertical supports may be configured to couple to a plurality of footings.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a luggage accessory may include an accessory surface, an accessory support, and an accessory connector. The accessory surface and the accessory connector may be coupled to the accessory support and the accessory connector may be configured to engage with receiver ports associated with luggage pieces. In aspects, a vertical support may be configured to support the accessory surface when operably coupled to luggage pieces. The luggage accessory may further include a plurality of vertical supports.

According to aspects, the luggage accessory include a plurality of accessory supports, and a plurality of accessory connectors disposed at one end of corresponding accessory supports. The luggage accessory may further include an accessory surface flange. According to aspects, the luggage accessory includes an accessory support hinge rotatably coupling the accessory support to the accessory surface, the accessory support hinge configured to rotate between a first position and a second position. The accessory support hinge may be configured to rotate between a plurality of positions. The luggage accessory may further include a plurality of accessory support hinges, a plurality of accessory supports, and a plurality of accessory connectors. The accessory support hinges may be configured to rotate between a first position and a second position. The luggage accessory may further include a plurality of accessory support hinges are configured to rotate between a plurality of positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and, together with a general description of the disclosure given above, and the detailed description of the embodiment(s) given below, explain the principles of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a luggage piece, including a luggage frame located along the interior of the luggage piece;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the luggage frame of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a luggage accessory;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative luggage accessory;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative luggage accessory;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the luggage accessory of FIG. 4 coupled to the luggage piece of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative luggage accessory;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the luggage accessory of FIG. 7 coupled to the luggage piece of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the luggage accessory of FIG. 7 coupled to the luggage piece of FIG. 1, the luggage piece in an expanded position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views.

As will be described in detail below, provided are embodiments of a luggage frame and accessories. The luggage piece includes a luggage frame configured to receive a luggage accessory thereon. The luggage frame may be removably coupled to the luggage piece. In use, the luggage accessory may be removably attached to the luggage frame, and may further include supports which when coupled to the luggage accessory provide additional support to the luggage accessory.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, a luggage piece is shown and is designated generally 100. The luggage piece 100 includes a housing 112 and an accessory frame 200 (see FIG. 2) disposed at least partially within the housing 112. The housing 112 includes a plurality of ports 104 located along an upper surface 122 of the housing 112. The ports 104 are configured to receive accessory connectors 304 (see FIG. 3) therein, thereby coupling luggage accessories (FIGS. 3-5) to the accessory frame 200 (see FIG. 2). The housing 112 further includes a zipper seam 124 which, when opened, defines an opening which enables insertion and removal of contents therethrough. The housing 112 further encloses a cavity configured to receive articles (e.g., toiletries, clothes, books, electronics, etc.).

Located in the housing 112 are a plurality of vertical frame channels 102, horizontal frame channels 106, and cross-frame channels 108. The vertical frame channels 102 are coupled to the housing 112 at ports 104. Opposing end portions of the horizontal frame channels 106 are coupled to the vertical frame channels 102 along an upper portion and a lower portion of the vertical frame channels 102. Likewise, opposing end portions of the cross-frame channels 108 are coupled to the vertical frame channels 102 along the upper portion and lower portion of the vertical frame channels 102. The cross-frame channels 108 are also coupled where cross-supports 208 intersect (see FIG. 2), permitting connection of the cross-supports 208 to one another.

The vertical frame channels 102, horizontal frame channels 106, and cross-frame channels 108 may additionally be coupled to sides and/or the lower surface 126 of the housing 112 to maintain the position of the respective channels relative to the housing 112. It is contemplated that the vertical frame channels 102, horizontal frame channels 106, and cross-frame channels 108 may each further include a seam defining two edges which traverse the length of the respective channels (not shown) configured to couple when cooperatively aligned with corresponding seams. The edges of the vertical frame channels 102, horizontal frame channels 106 and cross-frame channels 108 may include one or more fasteners such as snap-fasteners, Velcro® Sticky Back for Fabrics, zippers, buttons, or other such fasteners suitable for maintaining connection between the edges.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, the luggage piece 100 further includes a retractable handle 118 dimensioned to slidably engage the retractable handle channel 120. The retractable handle channel 120 may be coupled to one or more horizontal frame channels 106, to permit coupling a retractable handle frame (not shown) to horizontal supports 206 (see FIG. 2). The retractable handle 118 and retractable handle channel 120 may be constructed of rigid materials such as plastic, aluminum, or other structurally similar composites. The retractable handle channel 120 may, additionally or alternatively, be coupled to the housing 112 or an independent frame (not shown) to provide additional support as forces are exerted on the retractable handle 118 while in use.

The luggage piece 100 further includes a handle 110 located along the upper surface 122. The handle 110 is coupled to the upper surface 122 at opposing ends of the handle 110. It is contemplated that, to improve the rigidity of the luggage piece 100 when forces are exerted on the handle 110, the handle 110 may be disposed within a handle housing (not explicitly shown) operably coupled to the accessory frame 200 (see FIG. 2) and/or independent frame (not shown). Specifically, the handle housing may be fixed to the accessory frame 200 via any suitable method (fasteners, screws, etc.) and configured to receive the handle therethrough. The handle housing may further lock the handle at one or more predetermined heights so as to maintain the retractable handle 118 in fixed positional relation to the luggage piece 100.

Footings 114 are located along a front portion of the lower surface 126 and are removably coupled to corresponding vertical support bases 210. The footings 114 are further coupled to the lower surface 126 of the housing 112. The footings 114 may be constructed of structurally rigid materials, such as plastic, aluminum, or other structurally similar materials to provide rigid support to corresponding vertical supports 202. Wheels 116 are located along a rear portion of the lower surface 126 and are rotatably coupled to the ends of corresponding vertical supports 202, providing rigid support to the vertical supports 202.

Referring to FIG. 2, the accessory frame 200 includes vertical supports 202 that are configured to couple to both the horizontal supports 206, and the cross-supports 208. The vertical supports 202 define a longitudinal axis and are configured to be received by the vertical frame channels 102 therein. The horizontal supports 206 couple to the vertical supports 202, providing structural rigidity to the accessory frame 200. Both the vertical supports 202 and the horizontal supports 206 rigidly support and resist compression of the cavity defined by the housing 112 when forces are exerted on the accessory frame 200 from any direction.

The cross-supports 208 couple to corresponding vertical supports 202, the cross-supports coupling to one another at an intersection 212. When the accessory frame 200 is installed in the luggage piece 100, the cross-supports 208 are located along opposing sides of the luggage piece 100. It is contemplated that in embodiments, the back portion of the luggage piece 100 may include cross-supports as well, to increase the structural rigidity of the accessory frame 200. When the accessory frame 200 is assembled, the cross-supports 208 reduce and/or prevent torsional rotation of the upper surface 122 relative to the lower surface 126.

Vertical supports 202 include bores extending therethrough, as well as telescoping vertical supports 216 disposed therein. The telescoping vertical supports 216 further include a second bore extending therethrough, and in substantial coaxial alignment with the bore of the vertical support 202. The telescoping vertical supports 216 extend upward from a collapsed position (see FIGS. 1 and 2) to an extended position (see FIG. 9) and are secured by a tensioning mechanism 214. The telescoping vertical supports 216 are configured to be slidably received within the bores of the telescoping vertical supports 216 and remain in substantial coaxial alignment with the vertical support 202. Substantial alignment of the telescoping vertical supports 216 with the telescoping vertical supports 216 includes alignment of the two axis with a +/−15 degree tolerance.

The telescoping vertical supports 216 are positionally maintained within the bores of the vertical supports 202 when inward force is exerted by the tensioning mechanism 214 onto the vertical supports 202. The tensioning mechanism 214 includes a first portion and a second portion (not explicitly shown). The first portion includes a cammed surface and is fixably disposed along the exterior of the upper portion of the vertical support 202. The first portion is threaded to rotatably receive the second portion thereon. The second portion includes a cammed surface with threads disposed along the interior of the second portion for rotatable engagement with the threads of the first portion. When the second portion is rotated about the first portion in a first direction, the second portion applies force inward about the first portion causing the first portion to advance inward and compress the portion of the telescoping vertical support 216 in contact with the tensioning mechanism 214. When rotated in a second direction different from the first direction, tension applied by the tensioning mechanism 214 to the telescoping vertical support 216 is released, thereby permitting slidable engagement of the vertical support 202 by the telescoping vertical support 216.

With continued reference to FIG. 2, the telescoping vertical supports 216 include frame receiving ports or ports 204 located along the top of the telescoping vertical supports 216. The ports 204 are configured to be selectively received by the port 104. The ports 204 may additionally and/or alternatively be coupled to the housing 112. The ports 204 are dimensioned to slidably receive accessory connectors 304 therein (see FIG. 6). Additionally, the ports 204 couple and decouple to the accessory connectors 304.

It is contemplated that, in embodiments, the vertical supports 202 may be inserted into the vertical frame channels 102 without being coupled to horizontal supports 206 and/or cross-supports 208. When only the vertical supports 202 are located in the housing 112 the vertical supports 202 may be stabilized relative to the housing 112 via the vertical frame channels 102. Alternatively, or additionally, the vertical supports 202 may couple to the lower surface 126, thereby stabilizing the vertical supports 202 relative to the luggage piece 100. It is further contemplated that the vertical supports 202 may include the ports 204 thereon, when telescoping vertical supports 216 are not installed in the luggage piece 100.

Referring to FIG. 3, a luggage accessory 300 includes an accessory surface 306, an accessory support 302, and an accessory connector 304. The accessory surface 306 defines a substantially planar surface which, when attached to the accessory frame 200, is configured to align with the upper surface 122 of the luggage piece 100. The accessory surface 306 couples to the accessory supports 302, the accessory supports operably and rigidly coupling the accessory surface 306 to the accessory frame 200 of a luggage piece 100 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The accessory supports 302 include accessory connectors 304 located at distal portions of the accessory supports 302, the accessory connectors 304 in opposed relation to the accessory surface 306 along the accessory support 302.

The accessory connectors 304 define substantially circular prongs which have a dimeter dimensioned for flush connection via slidable engagement with the ports 204. Likewise, the ports 204 have a diameter dimensioned for flush connection with the accessory connectors 304. It is contemplated that, in alternative embodiments, the accessory connectors 304 and ports 204 may include slidably engageable flanges, or other similar rigid connection members capable of providing a rigid mechanical connection.

Referring to FIG. 4, an alternative embodiment of a luggage accessory 300′ includes two vertical accessory supports 308′. The vertical accessory supports 308′ removably couple to the accessory surface 306′. When both the vertical accessory supports 308′ and the luggage accessory 300′ are coupled to the accessory frame 200, the vertical accessory supports 308′ prevent the downward force applied from translating into rotational force subsequently applied to the accessory frame 200. The vertical accessory supports 308′ may include a screw dimensioned to engage with screw reception ports located along the bottom of the accessory surface 306′ (not shown).

Referring to FIG. 5, another alternative luggage accessory 300″ includes an accessory support hinge 308″ and an accessory surface flange 310″ . The accessory support hinge 308″ rotatably couples the accessory support 302″ to the accessory surface 306″ The accessory support hinge 308″ may be rotated throughout a plurality of positions. Alternatively, the accessory support hinge 308″ may include a tensioning mechanism (not shown) such as a bolt and butterfly nut or other similar locking mechanisms and/or fasteners to permit selectable repositioning of the accessory surface 306″.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the luggage accessory 300′ is shown assembled with the luggage piece of FIG. 1. In use, the luggage accessory 300′ is assembled by inserting the accessory connectors 304 into the ports 204. The vertical accessory supports 308′ are attached to the accessory surface 306′ by screwing the vertical accessory supports 308′ into the accessory surface 306′.

Referring to FIG. 7, another alternative embodiment of a luggage accessory 300′″ includes an accessory surface 306′″, a plurality of accessory supports 302′″, and a plurality of accessory connectors 304′″. The accessory connectors 304′″ are located along a bottom surface of the accessory surface 306′″ and are positioned to align with the plurality of ports 104 of the luggage piece 100 (see FIG. 2). The accessory surface 306′″ is defined by a rear portion 308′″ and a front portion 310′″. When the luggage accessory 300′ is aligned with upper surface 122 of the luggage piece 100, the accessory connectors 304′ may slidably engage with the ports 204 of the accessory frame 200, permitting selective coupling of the luggage accessory 300′ to the luggage piece 100.

When the luggage accessory 300′″ is coupled to the upper surface 122 of the luggage piece 100, the rear portion 308′″ aligns with the planar surface defined by the upper surface 122 of the luggage piece 100. The rear portion 308′″ of the accessory surface 306′″ extends along the upper surface 122 from the rear of the luggage piece 100 toward the front. When coupled to the luggage piece 100, the front portion 310′″ of the luggage accessory 300′″ cantilevers outward and forward relative to the upper surface 122. When the front portion 310′″ receives downward force as objects are placed thereon, the downward force is transferred to the ports 204 of the accessory frame 200, permitting the luggage accessory 300′″ to maintain a stable position to enable an individual to use the accessory as a working surface (see FIG. 8).

It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiments of the presently disclosed accessory without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A luggage piece including an accessory frame, comprising: a housing defining a cavity; a receiver port located on the housing along an upper surface of the housing; and a vertical support, wherein the vertical support is configured to slidably engage with the receiver port.
 2. The luggage piece of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of receiver ports located along the housing along the upper surface; and a plurality of vertical supports, wherein the plurality of vertical supports are configured to slidably engage with the plurality of receiver ports.
 3. The luggage piece of claim 2, wherein the plurality of vertical supports are slidably engaged with a plurality of vertical frame channels, wherein the plurality of vertical frame channels are configured to secure the plurality of vertical supports in the cavity.
 4. The luggage piece of claim 2, wherein the plurality of vertical supports are configured to couple to a lower surface located on the housing.
 5. The luggage piece of claim 2, wherein the vertical supports further include telescoping vertical supports configured to slidably engage the vertical supports.
 6. The luggage piece of claim 5, wherein the vertical supports further include tensioning mechanisms configured to selectively fix the telescoping vertical supports relative to the vertical supports.
 7. The luggage piece of claim 4, wherein the plurality of vertical supports are configured to couple to a plurality of footings.
 8. A luggage accessory, comprising: an accessory surface; an accessory support; and an accessory connector, wherein the accessory surface and the accessory connector are coupled to the accessory support and the accessory connector is configured to engage with receiver ports associated with luggage pieces.
 9. The luggage accessory of claim 8, further comprising a vertical support configured to support the accessory surface when operably coupled to luggage pieces.
 10. The luggage accessory of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of vertical supports.
 11. The luggage accessory of claim 9, further comprising: a plurality of accessory supports; and a plurality of accessory connectors disposed at one end of corresponding accessory supports.
 12. The luggage accessory of claim 8, further comprising an accessory surface flange.
 13. The luggage accessory of claim 12, further comprising an accessory support hinge rotatably coupling the accessory support to the accessory surface, the accessory support hinge configured to rotate between a first position and a second position.
 14. The luggage accessory of claim 13, wherein the accessory support hinge is configured to rotate between a plurality of positions.
 15. The luggage accessory of claim 13, further comprising: a plurality of accessory support hinges; a plurality of accessory supports; and a plurality of accessory connectors, wherein the accessory support hinges are configured to rotate between a first position and a second position.
 16. The luggage accessory of claim 13, wherein a plurality of accessory support hinges are configured to rotate between a plurality of positions. 